Trace-holder.



No. 667,042. Patented Jan. 29, mm.

0; L-. -SPRAGUE.

TRACE HOLDER,

(Application filed Oct. 11, 1900.)

(No Model.)

l M J iHIII I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR L. SPRAGUE, OF ANDOVER, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PERRY D. BISHOP, OF SAME PLACE.

TRACE-HOLDER.

SPEGIFIGATIONforming part of Letters Batent No. 667,042, dated January 29, 1901.

Application filed October 11, 1900. Serial N0- 32,'767. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that. I, OSCAR L. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Andover, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Trace- Ilolder, of which the following is a specifica- Lion.

The invention relates to improvements in trace-holders.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of trace-holders and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device of great strength and durability adapted to be readily applied to a whiifletree and capable of securely holding a trace and of enabling the same to be adjusted longitudinally and of being quickly fastened to a whiffletree.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed.

out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a whiffletree provided with a trace-holder constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the catch.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a catch arranged on the upper face of a whiffletree 2 at the end thereof and adapted to engage a trace 3, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. This catch, which extends longitudinally of the whiffletree, consists of a spring 4 and a block or head 5, arranged at the outer end of the spring and bearingagainst the upper face of the whiffletree. The spring 4: is secured at its inner portion to the upper face of the whiffletree and it is deflected upward near its center, and the block is attached to its outer portion near its outer end and is suitably secured to its lower face. The outer terminal 6 of the spring projects beyond the block and is adapted to be readily grasped to lift the catch out of engagement with the trace,which is provided with a series of openings 7 to receive the end of the whiflletree.

The ends 8 of the block or head 5 are beveled, and the outer beveled end is adapted to be engaged by the trace in placing the latter on the whiflletree, and the catch will be lifted automatically by the trace, which is received within a rectangular recess 9, located at the center of the block or head and extending upward from the lower face thereof.

The rear portion of the trace is bent inward and extended longitudinally of the whifietree and is arranged in a keeper l0, consisting of a vertical loop projecting above the whiffletree at the back thereof and provided with upper and lower forwardly-extending arms 11 and 12, arranged on the upper and lower faces of the whiffletree. The upper arm extends across the spring,and its terminal 13 is bent downward. Both the spring and the keeper are secured to the whiffletree bya vertical fastening device 14, which passes through the parts, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. The lower arm 12 of the keeper is extended forward and is secured to the lower face of the whiffletree.

When the catch is raised, the trace may be drawn outward off the whiffletree, and the said trace is adapted to be quickly placed on the whiffletree, the catch automatically engaging it and securely holding it in place. The keeper is adapted to retain the rear end of the trace in the position shown in Fig. l, and it does not interfere with the ready attachment or unfastening of the trace and does not require any manipulation.

The block 5, which forms the head of the catch, may be constructed of any suitable material, and the beveled ends terminate short of the vertical walls of the central' recess, and lower flat faces 15 are provided at each side of the recess to fit against the whiffletree.

It will be seen that the trace-holder is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is strong and durable, and that it is adapted to permit a trace to be readily fastened to and removed from a whiffletree. It will also be apparent that it is adapted to be readily applied to the ordinary whif fletree and that the keeper, which holds the rear end of the trace, does not require any manipulation to release the said trace.

consisting of a vertical loop extending vertically beyond the whiffietree and provided with a pair of forwardly-extending arms secured to the whiffletree, substantially as described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR L. SPRAGUE. Witnesses:

O. W. TOURGEE, M. E. LEWIS. 

